Conveyer system



2 Sheets-Swat 1 HHHMOMHI L A. H. SHAFFER CONVEYER SYSTEI Filed July 19. 1923 Oct. 13, 1925- 1,556,723 A. H. SHAFFER couvsmn SYSTEM Filed July 19. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5i sil Patented Oct. 13, 1925.

UNITED. sr TEES r 1,556,723 PAT OFFICE.

ALFRED H. sIIArFnItor RIVERSIDE, ILLINOIS, nssreno-n TO THE .ALLBRIGHT NELL COMPANY, or cnrcneo, ILLINOIS, 1A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS.

coNvnYnn sYs'rEM.

Application filed July 19, -1923. Serial 1%. 652,518.

To all whom it may concern:

Be known that I, ALFRED H."S IAFFER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Riverside, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new. and useful Improvement. in Conveyer Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in conveyer systems adapted to selectively distribute packages or the like to various destinations, and more particularly to theselectively operated devices for automatically releasing the load at its destination. I

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved construction of tripping devices of the character described;

The subject matter of the present invention is particularly applicable to conveyer systems such asdisclosed in my co-pending a plication for U. S. Letters Patent bearing erial Number 641,314, filed May 25th, 1923, and presents certain improvements inmechanically operated. releasing or tripping devices to be used therewith. a

The invention may best be understood, by reference to the accompanying drawings, illustrating one form. in which the invention may be embodied.

In these drawings: 1 j Figure '1 is a plan view of fragmentary portions of track, with parts omitted, and showing the load releasing deviceininoperative position. f r

Figure 2 is a-vertical section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1, showing the carrying trolley before the load is released therefrom. Figure 8i is an enlarged vertical sectionof the releasing Inechanisrn taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail of the load releasing device, showing it in operative position.

Figure 5 is a detail showing. the trolley after the load is released, drawn to-the same scale as Figure 2. r

Figuretl is a detail view of the hook and locking arm.

For the purposes of illustration, the invention is shown as applied to a conveyer system including a track 11, upon which is mounted a plurality of trolleys, such as 20.

The trolleys are propelled by suitable means such as a conveyer chain 12, having a plurality of projecting fingers 13, 13, thereon, adapted to engage the trolleys and move them along the track.

Trolleys 20 each comprise a hanger; 21, formed. of a single inverted U -shaped. piece 18, and provided with alsin'gle flanged wheel 22. A hook member. 23 extends from'the lower end of the hanger, and. is adapted to engage andsupport'the load,. suc h as a mail sack indicated at '24. 'Tjhe hook member 28 is pivotally mounted on the hanger at 25 to swing ina planeilo'ngitudinal of the track. Said hook member is normally'held in position to hold the load by a locking arm 25, pivotally mounted at 27 tomove in an axis transversetosaid hook, and prolvided at its lower end with a detent 26 adapted to engage a portion 19 of saidlhook. A projection 28 on the upper end of looking arm 25 is adapted to coac t with'atripping device 40, so astodisengage and permit the hook 23 to swing downwardly'and release its load by gravity, as shown in Figure 5. The tripping or releasing-device 40, forming the subject matter of, the presentin'vention, will now be described. It will be understoodthat these devices are positione at various, designated points on the conveyer system. Each device comprises a mechanically movable contacting device such fas a shoe 41 responsive. to apred'etermined'arrangement of a projection/42 on one of the trolleys 20, and adapted when depressed to cause a tripping member tobe extended into position to. engage the projection, 28 of locking arm 25 on the trolley. In the form shown the device is mechanically operated. The shoe41 is connected by apair of parallel links 46, 46,,to a 'frame47; Selective operation of the various tripping devices is provided by arranging each of the shoes 41 at certain heights to engage with acer-tain coacting projection 42.0n the trolley hanger 21. Contact with the projection 28 of the trolley-is providedfby a wing shaped member. 50,, mounted atfthe. lower end of an upright shaft; 51 jo'ur'nalled j in, the. frame position as shown in Figure 1. Suitable stop devices are provided to limit the movement of said shoe, as for instance an arm 57 having engagement with a stop 58, limits its forward movement, and the member 50 engages a stop 59, when the shoe is depressed and the tripping member 50 is in actuating position relative to the trolley.

The frame 47 of the tripping device is preferably supported for movement along a rail 60, and also for detachment therefrom, in a manner similar to that broadly disclosed in my co-pending application, already referred to. This movable connection of the frame comprises a clamping cam member 61, pivoted to the frame and operable by a handle 62 to engage the outer side of rail above the flange 63 thereof- It will be understood that wide variation is permissible in the position of the projections 42 on the various trolleys, so that the loads may be selectively distributed at various points along the track.

From the above description, it will now be understood that the wing shaped tripping member 50 is normally maintained at some distance from the moving trolleys thereby eliminating danger of accidental contact with projections 28,0n the latter, especially when the latter sway sideways on the track, and is only moved into operative position when the certain trolley intended for that particular destination comes into coactin position therewith.

The mechanical device disclosed herein provides a simple, durable and positively actuating contrivance for the purpose set forth, capable of being readily moved from place to place in the system.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a conveying system, in combination with a carriage having load releasing means thereon, an actuating device for said load releasing device comprising a tripping member movable into and out of cooperative position respective to said load releasing means, tension means normally retaining said tripping member in inoperative position, and an elongated shoe depressible bodily by selective means on said carriage and having operative connection with said tripping member to positively move the latter into operative position.

2. In a conveying system, in combination with a carriage having load-releasing means thereon, an actuating device for said load releasing device comprising a frame, a pivoted tripping member movable into and out of cooperative position respective to said load-releasing means, a shoe adapted for selective operation by said carriage, a pair of parallel links supporting said shoe on said frame, and a crank arm movable with said tripping member and operably connected with said shoe.

3. In a conveying system, in combina tion with a carriage having load-releasing means thereon, an actuating device for said load-releasing device comprising a frame, a pivoted tripping member movable into and out of cooperative position respective to said load-releasing means, a shoe adapted for selective operation by said carriage, a pair of parallel links supporting said shoe on said frame, a crank arm movable with said tripping member and operably connected with said shoe, and tension means tending normally to maintain said tripping member in inoperative position.

4. In a conveying system, in combination with a carriage having load-releasing means thereon, an actuating device for said load-releasing device comprising a frame, a shaft journalled in said frame, a tripping member carried by said shaft and movable into and out of the cooperative position respective to said load-releasing means, a crank arm also carried by said shaft, a coil spring on said shaft tending normally to maintain said tripping member in inopera-= tive position, and a shoe operatively connected with said crank arm, and depressible bodily while in selective engagement with a part on said carriage.

5. In a conveying system, a combination with a carriage having load-releasing means thereon, an actuating device for said load-releasing device comprising a frame, a shaft journalled in said frame, a tripping member carried by said shaft and movable into and out of the cooperative position respective to said load-releasing means, a crank arm also carried by said shaft, a coil spring on said shaft tending normally to maintain said tripping member in inoperative position, a depressible shoe operatively connected with said crank arm, and a pair of parallel links supporting said shoe on said frame.

Signed in Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 13th day of July,

ALFRED H. SI-IAFFER. 

